By Kudakwashe Vhenge
Government has expressed its the satisfaction of measures employed by China to protect African nationals in the Asian country.
This comes after widespread reports that Africans were being subjected to forced isolation, blood tests for COVID 19 and evictions mainly in Guangzhou province.
This has sparked outrage with a number of African organizations and administrations blasting the Chinese government for ‘mistreating’ foreigners.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Sibusiso Moyo applauded the Chinese government for “taking measures to address issues raised by the reports.
In a statement Moyo said the government had contacted China concerning the issues raised and was impressed with the progress made to safe guard African nationals living, studying and working there.
“We welcome the assurances given by the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chen Xiadong to the Group of African Ambassadors on 12 April 2020 that our nationals will be treated equally without discrimination and that their safety and welfare will always be guaranteed,” read the statement.
African ambassadors have since sent a joint diplomatic note to the Chinese government calling for an end to recent discriminatory actions which create the impression that Africans are spreading Covid-19.
The warm relations that exist between Zimbabwe and China have however seen the former jump to the defence of China whenever conflict arises.
Recently, the government of Zimbabwe cautioned its citizens against discrimination of Chinese nationals living in the country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade made reference to the recently enacted UN General Assembly resolution on Covid-19 cautioning the world against any form of discrimination, racism and xenophobia in response to the pandemic, a path which China seems not to follow.
Recently about 350 Zimbabwean students in Wuhan Province where corona virus was first recorded made a distress call for evacuation accusing President Mnangagwa’s government of neglecting them.
Thousands of Zimbabweans are currently living, working and studying in China.
1 comment
China is a very bad international friend, only fools will think of it as a good friend. The lie of it being an all-weather friend is that they wont advise you even when they see you making monumental errors. China is a friend that will never speak against human rights abuses being perpetrated or violation of democratic principles…because China itself does not believe in democracy! They are selfish international criminals. Chinas friendship ONLY benefits them
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